Truncation of the NS1 Protein Converts a Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus into a Strong Interferon Inducer in Duck Cells

The NS1 protein of influenza A viruses is known as a nonessential virulence factor inhibiting type I interferon (IFN) production in mammals and in chicken cells. Whether NS1 inhibits the induction of type I IFNs in duck cells is currently unknown. In order to investigate this issue, we used reverse...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Avian diseases 2010-03, Vol.54 (s1), p.527-531
Main Authors: Soubies, Sébastien Mathieu, Volmer, Christelle, Guérin, Jean-Luc, Volmer, Romain
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
amino acid sequences
Animals
avian
Avian influenza virus
Cell lines
Cells, Cultured
Chickens
cultured cells
duck
Ducks
Ducks - embryology
Fibroblasts
food animals
Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
Humans
Infections
influenza
Influenza A virus
Influenza A virus - classification
Influenza A virus - genetics
Influenza A virus - pathogenicity
interferon
interferons
Interferons - genetics
Interferons - metabolism
interspecies transmission
Life Sciences
low pathogenic avian influenza
mammals
microbial genetics
molecular sequence data
Mutation
NS1
Orthomyxoviridae
pathogenesis
Pathogenesis and Pathobiology in Avian Species
Proteins
reverse genetics
Truncation
Vero cells
vertebrate viruses
Viral Nonstructural Proteins - chemistry
Viral Nonstructural Proteins - genetics
viral proteins
virulence
Virus Replication
Viruses
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Description
Summary:The NS1 protein of influenza A viruses is known as a nonessential virulence factor inhibiting type I interferon (IFN) production in mammals and in chicken cells. Whether NS1 inhibits the induction of type I IFNs in duck cells is currently unknown. In order to investigate this issue, we used reverse genetics to generate a virus expressing a truncated NS1 protein. Using the low pathogenic avian influenza virus A/turkey/Italy/977/1999 (H7N1) as a backbone, we were able to rescue a virus expressing a truncated NS1 protein of 99 amino acids in length. The truncated virus replicated poorly in duck embryonic fibroblasts, but reached high titers in the mammalian IFN-deficient Vero cell line. Using a gene reporter system to measure duck type I IFN production, we showed that the truncated virus is a potent inducer of type I IFN in cell culture. These results show that the NS1 protein functions to prevent the induction of IFN in duck cells and underline the need for a functional NS1 protein in order for the virus to express its full virulence.
ISSN:0005-2086
1938-4351
DOI:10.1637/8707-031709-Reg.1